9 complaints reported

2016 Subaru Legacy ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
9
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2023

I've own a 2016 Subaru Legacy Limited 3.6, for coming on 2 years. In the last 3 months I've had to replace my battery twice. The last being a red top battery costing $300+ and only lasted 2 days. The first incident that was most disruptive was, driving home in rush hour traffic when I lost all power, radio cut out, all lights on dash go out, my car begins to sputter and there is no power steering. Once traffic rolled to a stop it dies and wouldn't turn back over, couldn't pull my key from the ignition, roll the windows up, and once in park I couldn't change to neutral. It was very dangerous due to traffic, and I was stuck on a bridge that was a main arterial, with no emergency flashers. Had to have the city law enforcement call to get my car removed from the roadway. Had it towed to the dealership I purchased it from. The next day they told me my battery was dead and I needed a new one. Tested my alternator and that test good. Then again it died under the same symptoms as it did the first time. Leaving me stranded on a busy highway, at 10 at night. All of my symptoms were directly related to my a/c being on and sitting too long without driving, at idle or stop and go traffic and progrssively got to being a main battery drain. My key ittermediately wont pull from the ignition, steering wheel wont lock in place. My windows will randomly not roll up, but bounce down and stop halfway and lock temporarily in that position. I believe its all electrical problems or voltage issues. None the less... if there is no way to repair this, than it should be a recall..... because it's a serious problem with no solution and Subaru is fully aware of it.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 SUBARU LEGACY, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2023
May 2023

Replaced battery but still all dash lights come on I lose power and it dies. I can jump start it and it stay but all lights stay on. New starter, new alternator, I just don't know what it is. Only code that comes up is P0420

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 SUBARU LEGACY, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2023
May 2023

My 2016 Subaru Legacy 4 -Door Sedan has Power Windows. When my vehicle was under it's Extended Warranty I had an issue with the Passenger Side Window. When trying to roll the window down, it would roll down and then quickly roll back up. Over and over again. I had to wait and possibly even turn off the vehicle to finally get the Passenger Window to close. But needless to say, it made me very nervous. I took my vehicle to the Subaru Dealership in Grapevine, Texas for repair. It was repaired at the time, at a cost of $100.00. But here I am yet again, and the same problem has happened again. And now my Driver's Side Window will not even roll down, at all. I no longer have the Extended Warranty, unfortunately. So, I am truly unsure if I feel comfortable taking it back for repairs. Wondering if this will happen again. And with the Driver's Side Window not being able to roll down at all, this has proved dangerous for me and my Mother. Who also drives my vehicle. It was/is especially quite dangerous going to do Curbside Pickups, Drive Thru for my Prescriptions, or food orders. I am very concerned for mine and my Mother's Safety with both Front Driver's Side and Passenger Side Windows not working properly at all. I have never had a vehicle with this kind of issue before and feel if Subaru is all about Safety then all my Windows should work properly. I am at a real loss here as to what to do, as I cannot afford any repairs due to financial hardships and my poor health. So, it is rarely driven anymore, even though I have paid the loan off and have the Title for the vehicle. I am very perplexed and need help as to what I could or should do, other than report this Safety Issue to NHTSA. Thankfully though, the Rear Windows work properly. I have not discovered any issues with those two windows. No Warning Lights or Alerts have been present either for the front windows. But it is a definite problem and safety issue when the front windows do not work as they should.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 SUBARU LEGACY, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2019
Nov 2022

Battery is draining and needing replaced far more often than is typical. Constant corrosion build up on the battery.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 SUBARU LEGACY, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2020
Aug 2021

My battery keeps dying. I just had to replace it for the second time this year. Used 2 brands, one from the dealership and the other Interstate. I had the alternator and starter checked but those are working. Something keeps killing my battery and would like it fixed. I have missed appointments and had my car towed having to pay over $600 to get it back.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 SUBARU LEGACY, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2021
Oct 2020

THE 2016 SUBARU LEGACY IGNITION KEEPS JAMMING THE KEY AFTER THE DRIVER HAS STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED IT IN PARK. THE KEY REMAINS JAMMED AND BECOMES DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO REMOVE. KEEP IN MIND THE TIRES ARE STRAIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND THE KEY IS NOT BENT. THIS INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES THIS MONTH AND HAS NEVER OCCURRED PRIOR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 SUBARU LEGACY, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2020
Apr 2020

KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION AFTER PLACING CAR IN PARK. LITERALLY HAVE TO EITHER SLAM CAR INTO PARK OR START CAR AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT DOWN. PROBLEM STARTED RIGHT AFTER HITTING 60000 MILES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 SUBARU LEGACY, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2020
Nov 2019

FAILURE OF THE PARK-RANGE SWITCH RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION WHEN SHIFTER IS IN THE PARK POSITION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 SUBARU LEGACY, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2019
Apr 2018

WIRES AND OTHER COMPONENTS ARE MADE OF SOY BASED MATERIALS THAT ATTRACT RODENTS SQUIRRELS CHIPMUNKS AND CATS APPARENTLY AND HAVE BEEN CHEWED; THE HARNESS WAS DESTROYED AND POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO THIS AND TO POWER STEERING LINE, EXHAUST HOSES AND OTHER WIRING AND PARTS WITH SOY EXIST. THE MANUFACTURER STATES THERE IS NO REMEDY OTHER THAN TO REPLACE WITH THE SAME MATERIALS. WE ARE CONCERNED NOT ONLY FOR FINANCIAL REASONS BUT PARTICULARLY SAFETY ISSUES. WHEN I TURNED ON THE ENGINE IN THE MORNING EVERY WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS FLASHING INCLUDING BRAKE, TRANSMISSION, OIL, AIR, ETC AND I COULD NOT DRIVE AT ALL. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS OR CAR FIRES RELATED TO THIS SITUATION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 SUBARU LEGACY, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2018

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Subaru Legacy has 9 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.